Multiscale computational and experimental models to quantify spatiotemporal host-pathogen interaction and immune response. 

Using a modular approach, we are developing novel multi-scale in vitro and in silico models of host-pathogen systems, with a focus on bacterial infections that induce a structural immune response and lead to latent and reactivated diseases.  Projects include:

(1) Development of a multi-scale integrated models of host biochemical and physiological immune response to bacterial infection .

(2) Theoretical and experimental models to determine the mechanistic impact of comorbidities (e.g., vitamin D deficiency, COPD) on immune response to infection.

Multiscale models of microbial cooperativity, stress response, and quorum sensing to modulate biofilm formation.

Our in vitro models of bacteria focus on the role of dynamics on the outcome of cell-cell or cell-environment interactions. Projects include oxidative stress models of mycobacterium, F. tularensis and most recently multi-stress model of E. coli 

Additional Areas of Research

• Computational Biosensors & Biological Coding Theory (BCT) - The theoretical work in BCT (by May, Bitzer, and Vouk) laid a foundation that continues to be developed by various researchers in the field of biological communication and information theory as a way to model molecular scale information exchange. Generalizing the theoretical framework for biological error control coding theory, we (May) developed methods for design of deoxyribozyme-based computational biosensors, as demonstrated in collaboration with the Brozik Lab (Sandia Nat’l Labs) that enable the concurrent detection and classification of pathogens and genetically modified organisms. 

• Systems Chemical Biology - Building on the BioXyce platform, we co-developed the systems chemical biology (SCB) platform. Systems chemical biology is a method for evaluating the effect of small molecule therapeutics at the level of the entire biological system. SCB provides a tool that can be used to support reverse pharmacology, and inform novel therapeutic strategies that target both pathogen and host. We successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using the SCB platform to analyze the outcome of multi-substrate inhibition of the Mtb latency-associated glyoxylate pathway during oxidative stress.